Costa Plans Unique Double Float Out for New Ships

May 29, 2008

Cruisers are becoming increasingly aware of and intrigued by the shipbuilding process, and cruise lines are responding by upping the ante when it comes to celebrating milestones for their under-construction vessels. Case in point: Today, Costa Cruises announced that it will become the first line in the cruise industry to float out two new ships ... on the same day.

On June 27, Costa Luminosa will take to the water at Fincantieri's Marghera yard, while Costa Pacifica does the same at Fincantieri's Genoa Sestri Ponente shipyard. During the launches, the dry dock areas where the ships are under construction will be flooded, allowing the ships to float for the very first time. Once a ship has been "floated out," interior work can commence because the exterior is virtually complete.

The 92,700-ton, 2,828-passenger Costa Luminosa is scheduled for delivery at the end of April 2009. The ship, which recently received the line's distinctive yellow funnel, will be the 32nd ship in the fleet's history and the 13th in the line's active fleet. Luminosa will feature an innovative design for the Costa fleet with a 4D cinema, golf simulator with 37 virtual courses, a rollerblading track and the highest percentage (68 percent) of balconies of any ship in the fleet.

The 114,500-ton, 3,780-passenger Costa Pacifica will make its debut in May 2009. The ship is a sister to Costa Concordia and Costa Serena, and its design is themed around music.